Needle-clamp.



R. G. WOODWARD.

NEEDLE CLAMP.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 25, 1908.

1,075,743. Patented 0@1;.14,1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM Gil-,WASHINHTON, D c.

' RUSSEL G. WOODWARD, OFVTAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIONSPEGIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OFCHICAGOQILLINOIS; A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

N EEDIE-GLANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

" Patented (let. 14,1913.

. Applicatiomfiled May 25, 1908. SeriaLNo. 434,746.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1,

ing at lVaukegan, in the county of Lake,

tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Clamps, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in multiple needle chain stitch sewing machines, although it is obvious that from certain aspects of my invention, certain parts thereof are applicable to other types of sewing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a needle clamp for a plurality of needles which is so constructed that the clamp may be released and one of the needles removed without entirely releasing the other needles.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration, one embodiment of my inven tion: Figure 1 is a view from the rear of the needle head, showing the needles clamped therein. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the needle head. Fig. 3 is a detail in section showing the spring for yieldingly pressing the block against the inner needle.

I have herein shown the needle head as carrying four needles, arranged in groups, but it will be understood that the number and arrangement may be varied as desired.

The needle head 9 is slotted at 48 to form the needle clamp. The needle 11 for example, engages the end of the slot, and a clamping member or block 50, pivoted in the slot l8 by means of a pivot pin 51, is normally pressed against the needle 11 by means of a spring 52, which is secured to the-needle head by a screw 53. The spring 52 at its forward end is bent laterally and extends through an opening 5a in the needle head into the clamping member 50. Said spring will cause the needle 11 to be clamped with sufiicient pressure so as to hold the needle in its slot. The clamping member 50 is also provided with a seat for the needle 10. A clamping screw 55 is provided at the outer end of the slot 4L8 and clamps the needle 10 against the clamping member 50. When said screw 55 is turned in, the needle 10 will not only be clamped against the RUssEL' G. lVoonwarn), a citizen of the United States, residclamping member 50, but the clamping member 50 willalso be clamped firmly against the needle 7, thus clamping both of the needles. I have thus provided a needle clamp wherein the clamping screw may be released and one of the needles removed, while the other will still be held in its socket, although both the needles may be readily removed if desired.

A plate 56 is secured to the upper side of the needle head 9 by screws 57. By turning these screws in or out, the position of the head of each screw is varied. The plate 56 can thereby have a certain limited movement on the shank of the screw, and the upward movement of the plate will be limited by the head of the screws. It will therefore, be seen that by the adjusting of the screws 57, I have provided an adjustable stop for determining the vertical position of the needles in the head.

It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A needle clamp including in combination, a supporting member, a plurality of needles, said supporting member having sockets for said needles, a pivoted block located between said needles, means for causing said block to yieldingly grip one of said needles, and means for positively locking both of said needles to said supporting member.

2. A needle clamp including in combina tion, a supporting member having a slot formed therein, a plurality of needles, a block located in said slot between said needles, means for yieldingly pressing said block against one of said needles for temporarily holding the same in said slot, and means for clamping the other needle against the yielding block and the yielding block against the first named needle, whereby both of said needles are positively held in said supporting member.

3. The combination of a needle bar, a needle head carried thereby, a needle, an adjustable plate for determining the vertical position of said needle, means for temporarily clamping said needle in said needle head, and means for positively clamping the needle therein.

4. The combination of a needle head, hava ing a slot in its outer end, and a needle socket at the inner end of said slot, a needle adapt ed to be seated in said socket, a block pivoted in said slot and means for causing said block to yieldingly engage said needle, a second 10 needle engaging a seat in the opposite side of said block from the first needle, and a screw threaded into the end of said slot and engaging said second needle for clamping said needles to the needle head.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, 15 in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSEL Gr. WOODWARD. Witnesses:

C. MCNEIL, WARD E. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

